Pet feeding system

Abstract

An automatic pet feeder system which allows a user to monitor the operation of the pet feeding and determine whether or not the pet feeding system is operating normally by placing a phone call to his or her house. The invention includes both a water reservoir and food reservoir which are each in connection with a separate bowl while monitoring sensors in the reservoirs and bowls determine the level of food and / or water and which when necessary indicate through a monitoring circuit to a controller to actuate an inlet valve to allow either food or water to enter into the appropriate bowl. The control circuit includes a telephone relay disconnect with an inlet and outlet telephone line while a regular telephone answering machine is attached to an outlet line from the automatic feeder so that when an interruption in the systems's operation is encountered the telephone answering machine is disconnected through the relay alerting the user to a feeding system malfunction. A timing device is provided in line with the control circuitry and provides a device for releasing food into the reservoirs at a given time. An auxiliary power battery is provided in line with conventional AC power cord for powering the system.

Description

The present invention relates to devices and methods for automatic pet feeders and more particularly to devices and methods for an automatic pet feeding system that comprises a metered and monitored system in connection with a water reservoir, watering bowl, food reservoir, and food bowl and a monitoring circuit including a disconnect relay having a plug that is positioned in line with a telephone line of a household answering machine while the system's monitoring circuit monitors the level of food and water within the respective reservoirs and bowls and also indicates whether programmed feeding and watering have taken place on time and whether an error exists in the operation of the unit so that a person may monitor the operation of the system by placing a telephone call to the household to determine if the system has malfunctioned.There have been numerous automatic pet feeders described and patented which include various levels of automation. These automatic pet feeders are useful...

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